By Maveric Vu
EMS1 News Editor
 An MAB vehicle model on display on the conference exhibit hall at EMS Today. |
BALTIMORE — When massive flooding began in N.D. Wednesday, two specially-equipped mass casualty vehicles were deployed from Minn. to aid in evacuations and emergency response.
A model from the same developer of those two vehicles was on display at EMS Today in Baltimore last week.
The MAB Evacuation/ Mass Casualty Vehicle, from N.C.-based Sartin Services, is a mobile triage apparatus designed to handle a large number of patients at once.
A typical model can support a crew of six EMS responders providing BLS care to about 20 patients. Other models can handle upwards of 24 patients, or about 14 patients, but with an expanded capacity for ALS care.
“We can use these buses for rehab, a mass casualty event, or for school bus accidents,” said Edward Sartin, president of Sartin Services.
MAB vehicles are being touted as the “next generation of triage transportation.” Vehicles feature a system of stacked stretchers on secured, bunk-bed-style racks that can be adjusted or removed for individual patients.
When the threat of flooding became apparent in N.D., local EMS officials worked with state coordinators to place an EMAC call, designated for emergency incidents, to Minn. in order to put the MAB vehicles on standby.
The two vehicles in Minn., operated by the Minnesota Fire Department and Hennepin Medical Center, were deployed to N.D. and crews have been assisting with evacuations and patient care for three days, Sartin said.
Michael Stanford, who works on an MAB vehicle in N.C., said his vehicle has been placed on standby three times in the past year for incidents such as Hurricane Hannah and Ike.
“If you need us to immediately go to the scene, we can get out the door as soon as I can get a driver,” said Stanford, a medical services specialist with Medic EMS Agency.
It takes about four hours to deploy with a full EMS crew, Stanford said.
 A system of stacked stretchers inside an MAB vehicle. |
Stanford said that multiple response configurations have been simulated for specific incidents. Sometimes an MAB vehicle will just have a driver onboard and three ambulances with crew members will be waiting on scene.
According to Stanford, if an incident were to require 10 ambulances, an MAB vehicle could be used with three ambulances staging, freeing up seven ambulances to remain on call.
However, Stanford said that MAB vehicles would only be used in place of ambulances for patients who needed non-critical triage.
According to Sartin, there are 15 MAB vehicles currently stationed for deployment in Washington, D.C., Minnesota, N.C. and S.C.
Having been available in the market for about 2 years, Sartin said the demand for the MAB vehicle is growing, especially from the government.
He plans on having 65 vehicles made for major cities across the country by the end of the year.
MAB vehicles have a number of patient care features. There are individual metered oxygen for both patients and responders, as well as a wireless monitoring system that can send patient information to the vehicle’s nursing station and to the appropriate emergency department.
MAB vehicles also have a 20 KW generator onboard and power outlets on the outside corners of the vehicle in order to supply electricity for lighting and other equipment.
MAB vehicles can cost anywhere from $300,000 to $350,000. Sartin Services can also renovate existing buses or RVs. For complete specifications, visit http://www.sartinservices.com/MAB/index.shtml.